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Home » 1,000 Foods To Eat Project

Hearty and Comforting Cholent aka Sabbath Stew

Oct 18, 2021Last Modified: January 19, 2022

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about how to make the hearty and comforting stew called Cholent.

Cholent in a brown bowl
Jump to:
  • Cholent AKA Sabbath Stew
  • 1,000 Foods To Eat Project
  • Ingredients You Will Need For A Basic And Delicious Cholent
  • The Very Easy Method To Make Sabbath Stew!
  • What To Serve With Cholent
  • Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!
  • Hearty and Comforting Cholent aka Sabbath Stew

Cholent AKA Sabbath Stew

Dictionary.com defines Cholent (noun in Jewish cooking) as: "a stewed or baked dish, especially of meat and beans, served on the Sabbath but cooked the day before or overnight over a slow fire." Cholent was developed over time to comply with Jewish laws that prohibited cooking on the Sabbath. So it is usually prepared on Friday, cooked overnight, and then eaten on the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday).

I have read that the name most likely comes from a combination of "chaud" from the French meaning "hot" and "lent" meaning slow.

This is a traditional dish steeped in history, and absolutely comforting and hearty. It is also one of the 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die!

1,000 Foods To Eat Project

I am working my way through the foods that are listed in the book 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die by Mimi Sheraton. This is called my 1,000 Foods to Eat Project. Sabbath Stew is food #55 in my Project! Learning about this incredible dish and preparing it for my family has been a fantastic experience! You can imagine that having to wait so many hours to eat the Cholent was very difficult. The aromas from the cooking of this stew made it so!

1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die Front Jacket
1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die

In this book, the author Mimi Sheraton lists her choice for the 1,000 Foods of the World that you MUST try. So let's get ready to make some Cholent! 😃

Ingredients You Will Need For A Basic And Delicious Cholent

There are many variations on this Jewish stew. Here I would like to share a basic recipe which is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious.

Here are the ingredients you will need:

  • Beef stew meat
  • Barley
  • Chickpeas (dried) - can sub dried white beans or dried lima beans
  • Potatoes
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Eggs
  • Paprika
  • Powdered ginger
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Water or beef broth
beef stew cuts in a white bowl, paprika, ground ginger, two potatoes, glass bowls of barley and chickpeas, a white bowl containing an onion, two eggs, and cloves of garlic

Please note I recommend you use dried chickpeas for this dish. You won't even have to soak them! They will spend enough time cooking in the slow cooker to become wonderfully tender.

As mentioned this is a very basic recipe for Cholent. Feel free to add some other veggies like celery or carrots to the mix if you like!

The Very Easy Method To Make Sabbath Stew!

It's SUPER EASY to make Cholent! However...patience is required 😃. This will take a minimum of 12 hours in the slow cooker. I have read that Jewish cooks believe that the longer your stew cooks the better it will taste...so let it go longer if you can bear it!

Simply prepare the potatoes and onions by peeling and dicing them. The garlic cloves should be peeled and then smashed. Rinse the barley and chickpeas.

Barley in a glass bowl, chickpeas in a glass bowl, cut up potato and onion on a wooden cutting board

Then simply combine all your ingredients in your slow cooker! Place the beef at the bottom and then top with barley and chickpeas. Next add the potatoes, onions, and spices. The spices include paprika, ginger, salt, and pepper.

  • beef stew meat with barley and chickpeas on top
    Beef topped with barley and chickpeas
  • diced onions and potatoes in a slow cooker with paprika sprinkled on top
    Onions, potatoes, and spices added to the beef, barley and chickpeas

Now add water or beef broth to just cover the ingredients in your slow cooker. Nestle the eggs gently into the mixture. These eggs are raw and will cook in the crockpot.

eggs, diced potato and onion, beef, and water in a slow cooker

Set the slow cooker on low, and allow to cook for a minimum of 12 hours. Remember, the longer you allow to cook the better 😊. Every so often, check and add a little bit of water or beef broth if necessary to keep this looking like a stew.

By the way, I have a 3 qt slow cooker so this recipe will make 3 largish servings. The recipe ingredients can be easily doubled to serve 6 people if you have a larger crockpot to work with!

Try to be patient as your Cholent cooks...it will smell so good that you will want to eat it before the 12 hours is up. Savor the aroma, and look forward to your comforting stew which will be worth the wait.

Cholent in a slow cooker with a black spoon scooping up some of the cholent

Your delicious stew is now ready to serve! Oops...I forgot...please peel the eggs before serving. 😆

What To Serve With Cholent

I served my Sabbath Stew with some home made bread that my husband made. It would go equally well with rice I should think.

Cholent with homemade bread, glass bowls filled with olives and dates and a glass of red wine

I do hope you will enjoy some delicious, hearty, and comforting Cholent soon!

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Easy Cheese Fondue!

bread on a fondue fork dipped in cheese from a fondue pot

How To Make Mouthwatering Russian Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff

Sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here. 😊

Cheers!

Grace

Cholent in a slow cooker with a black spoon scooping up some of the cholent

Hearty and Comforting Cholent aka Sabbath Stew

Grace
Cholent is a traditional dish steeped in history, and absolutely comforting and hearty. Cooked low and slow, it is absolutely worth waiting for. A bowl of this will sooth your soul.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 12 hrs
Total Time 12 hrs 10 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Jewish
Servings 3 people
Calories 589 kcal

Equipment

  • 3 qt or larger slow cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb beef stew meat fatty is ok
  • ⅓ cup barley
  • ½ cup dried chickpeas can sub dried lima or white beans
  • 2 potatoes medium sized, peeled and diced
  • 1 onion large, peeled and diced
  • 10 cloves garlic peeled and smashed
  • 2-3 eggs
  • 1 ts paprika
  • 1 ts garlic
  • 1 ts salt more may be added at the end to taste
  • 1 ts pepper more may be added at the end to taste
  • water or beef broth amount will vary - use just enough to cover and then add more if necessary to keep a stew like consistency

Instructions
 

  • Peel and dice the potatoes and onions. Peel the garlic and smash the cloves. Rinse the barley and chickpeas with water.
    Barley in a glass bowl, chickpeas in a glass bowl, cut up potato and onion on a wooden cutting board
  • Place the beef at the bottom of your slow cooker and then top with barley and chickpeas.
    beef stew meat with barley and chickpeas on top
  • Next add the potatoes, onions, and spices. The spices include paprika, ginger, salt, and pepper.
    diced onions and potatoes in a slow cooker with paprika sprinkled on top
  • Now add water or beef broth to just cover the ingredients in your slow cooker. Stir to combine. Nestle the eggs gently into the mixture. These eggs are raw and will cook in the crockpot.
    eggs, diced potato and onion, beef, and water in a slow cooker
  • Set your slow cooker to low and cook for 12 hrs. Every once in awhile check to see if more water or broth is needed to keep a stew like consistency and add if necessary. Taste and adjust for seasoning by adding more salt and pepper to taste. You can now peel the eggs. 🙂
    Cholent in a slow cooker with a black spoon scooping up some of the cholent
  • Serve your Cholent with some delicious bread!
    Cholent with homemade bread, glass bowls filled with olives and dates and a glass of red wine

Notes

This dish is actually very versatile!  You can try other types of fatty beef, dried beans, or veggies.
 
Just remember to cook low and slow!
 
Eat In Health!! 

Nutrition

Calories: 589kcalCarbohydrates: 68gProtein: 50gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 203mgSodium: 924mgPotassium: 1641mgFiber: 13gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 202IUVitamin C: 36mgCalcium: 134mgIron: 8mg
Keyword beef stew, cholent, sabbath stew, stew
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About Me

Hi I’m Grace! I'm married and a mom to my fur baby, Toby, and food and travel are two of my greatest passions! Since our bank account does not allow us to travel or eat out as much as we'd like, I decided I would cook delicious meals that could give us a taste of all the places we'd like to go. My goal is to get you in the kitchen, and inspire you to cook and taste delightful meals that will transport you too. Let’s throw some actual travel in from time to time, all with an emphasis on keeping your wallet full and happy as well. Let’s get cooking and let’s start exploring!! I'm excited to be on this journey with you!!

By the way most of these recipes are Toby taste tested and Toby approved!!

Chief Taste Tester Toby

Toby Chief Taste Tester

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